This weekend! Leah's Wedding + Our Last Rehearsal!

Hi everyone!!

We hope you've had a lovely couple of weekends off and are feeling rested and ready to hit the road!! We are really excited to share this show with audiences across Nova Scotia. And for you to spend some quality time with your XYE buds! Here's what's coming up:

Leah's Wedding - Sat May 31

We will have a final rehearsal before the wedding for "Two Strings, One Voice". Please meet at St. Matthew's for 1 pm sharp. There will be time after our rehearsal to finish getting ready and have a snack etc!

Sunday June 1 Rehearsal

This is our last regular Sunday rehearsal for the 2013-14 season! Note that this rehearsal will be from 2:30-5:30 pm only! We plan on doing two runs with fixes so that we are all refreshed on the show, and to give Jordyn a couple of chances to run the show. She will be essentially taking Leah's place for the June 8th and 13th shows.

Please bring your letter, suitcases, and knitting to Sunday's rehearsal. You don't need to wear your full costume - just bring your apron so you can use it in the first two songs.

You will need to be prepared to leave your suitcase with Christina and I on Sunday. We will be transporting them to each of the theatres in our cars, leaving more space in each of the cars for all of you and your costumes etc.

I will have tickets with me for XYE's Halifax performance of Free as the Wind on Saturday June 7th. If you and/or your friends and family are planning to attend the performance, you can purchase tickets from me on Sunday!

50/50 Tickets

Don't forget to be selling those 50/50 tickets! Tenille will be doing a check in this Sunday to see how everything is going in the world of fundraising!

Thanks everyone! This last month we just get to enjoy performing this beautiful show across our pretty little province! What an awesome way to end the year!!!! :)

Podium Info!!!! + Leah's Wedding Rehearsal

Hi everyone!!!

The time is finally here! We get to share this amazing show with a national audience TOMORROW! :) We're so excited!! You should be so proud of all the hard work and love you have put into this show. Sunday was a beautiful performance and we know that we will shine tomorrow onstage!!

Important info for Podium:

• Call time: 3:15 pm** note this is a change from what we said on Sunday
• Location: St. Matthew's United Church
• Bring: all costume pieces, suitcases, makeup, hair stuff, water, a light meal 
• Schedule:
• 3:30 pm - soundcheck
• 4:00 pm - backstage to get dressed/hair/makeup
• 5:00 pm - concert starts (AVHC first)
• 5:30 pm approx - we perform!!

Please make sure to bring water and something to eat - as you know it is hot in that room and we want everyone to be hydrated and well-fed! Please try and get a good night's sleep tonight so you're feeling well rested and ready to go. 

Leah's Wedding:

We will be rehearsing for Leah's wedding on Wednesday May 21, from 7:45-9:00 pm, venue TBA. If you can only come for part of the rehearsal, that's ok - any time you can make it is great!

Let's do this, superstars!!!!!!! Let's go show everyone why we're the best women's choir in Canada!!!!!!!!!!!

#weflawless

Notes for WotEL Preview Performance on May 11!!

Hi everyone!!

It's finally here!! We are going to share this beautiful piece with the world this weekend and we couldn't be more excited! We have worked so hard to craft this stunning piece of choral theatre and we are so grateful for your dedication and energy! YAY!!!! Here we go!

Plan for Sunday:

Please arrive by 1:00 pm. We want to give you a good physical warmup BEFORE you get changed! :) We'll then have some time to get dressed followed by a vocal warmup, some fixes, and then we'll do a run. We'll have time for some notes after the run, then you'll have a half an hour before the show to do makeup and get in the zone. The show will be at 4 pm. We'll have about 20 minutes or so after the show for you to chat with your friends and family and then we'll have a little debrief around 5:00 pm. Done by 5:30 pm as per usual. We're really excited to have this opportunity to share the show in a more low-pressure environment before we go to Podium.

Here's what you need to bring/know:

• suitcase (please take care of any alterations that have to be done in advance, ie taping any locks shut with Scotch tape or using pipe cleaners around the handle to dampen the sound if necessary)
• knitting
• costume (ironed or steamed) - blouse, skirt, apron, opaque black tights (absolutely not sheer tights), Xara shoes, any slips and camisoles if needed (please take care of any alterations that have to be done in advance - pinning etc)
• letter (written, and well folded)
• all ticket money
• no jewellery except wedding/engagement rings if you wear them and are appropriate to your character
• no nail polish
• hair needs to be done prior to arriving
• makeup can be done prior to show - basic stage with foundation, eyes, lips, cheeks

Additional Notes:

• There is no rehearsal on Sunday, May 18th.
• As per Christina's post on the Xara Facebook group, we'd like to cancel the May 25th rehearsal. We'd like to schedule a week-day rehearsal for Leah's wedding song (Two Strings, One Voice). Please respond to the Facebook poll to let us know if the proposed date can work for you.

Notes from the run - May 4th

HOMEWORK

-       Letter:

o   write your letter on plain white paper using blue or black pen

o   fold your letter in half

o   handle your letter a lot during the week (fold & unfold, caress etc)

-       Figure out where your suitcase touches the floor so that you are ready to put felt on the bottom

-       Iron or steam your costume

MUSIC NOTES

General Music Notes

Anybody who is singing in the middle of their range needs to be conscious of resonance – make sure to have a raised soft palette.

Apple

The tempo will be slightly slower than we have been taking it – Christina will be conducting in 3.

Watch the “ow” vowels – they need a lot of attention in order to be resonant.

V’la l’bon vent

After the intro & the first chorus, the next chorus is piano.

Continue to be aware of the difference between the vowels on “bon” and “vent”

Altos make sure that you stop your ching ch-k at the appropriate time.

I Lie

In the slow section, be very aware of the soft palette, and keep the internal beat very steady.

Day Dawn

DICTION! Any pitched consonants should be slightly longer – engage the facial muscles!

A little more of the second vowel in any words with diphthongs (e.g. eyes)

More decrescendo at measure 61

Measure 27-28 – The target words are dissolve and veils

Heaven Will Rise

This piece has fallen the  most victim to “talk singing” – it will take a concerted effort to ensure that the soft palette is raised.

MOVEMENT & CHARACTER NOTES

Opening

Come onstage in pairs, rather than one long line.

Apple

Throughout the piece, please make sure you are picturing someone you love.

V’la l’bon vent

Make sure to talk at the end of the piece so that Tenille has something to speak over.

Heaven Will Rise

After you form the two lines and move your suitcase to the centre, look around and interact with each other a bit as though you are actually on a train platform waiting.

Uraren Besotik

At the end of the piece, suitcases go down on the downbeat of your assigned bar – they should make a percussive sound.

Bow Order

Full company with Claire & Christina

Soloists

Composers

Full company

Notes for IWK +Sun May 4 + Music Monday

Hey y'all! Big post today so let's get right to it!

IWK Performance - Friday May 2nd

• Location: IWK atrium, meet near the Tim Hortons. We will be taken to the room we will be performing in (it's different from last year)
• Call Time: 9:55 am. Kallie and Zoe have a different call time, Christina will email you separately.
• Event Time: 11:00 am-12:00 pm.
• Rep
• One Voice (trio is Kallie, Sara, Shila)
• Brave (solo by Kallie - there are simple background vocals on the chorus, anyone who is able to learn it by Friday, we will put you around the piano with Zoe to sing. Listen to the song with lyrics here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyAfjUHlFSM)
• Dress: tunics, leggings, boots. There will be time to get changed after the rehearsal (we have a green room space).
• Zoe will be playing piano as Edward has transportation issues and can't be there on Friday.
• We have been invited to go and see the new wing once the reception is over (optional)

Sunday's Rehearsal

• Schedule:
• 1:15-1:45 pm  Music Monday rehearsal (with Edward)
• 1:45-5:30 pm  Full Company
• Notes: We'll be doing some detailed fixes, and then we're working on getting in two runs of the show. Very excited as this is our last rehearsal before the preview performance on May 11!!!!
• To Bring:
• suitcase
• costume (including Xara shoes)
• knitting 
• any ticket money you have collected this week!

Music Monday

• Rep:
• Pakkanen, V'la l'bon vent, I'll Give My Love an Apple (on our own)
• One Voice, Stand Together (with XYE)
• We'll work out the quartet in V'la l'bon vent on Sunday. One Voice will be featured on national broadcast. One Voice will have longer vamped piano sections in between the verses in order to accommodate speaking - we'll go over this on Sunday. Trio will be Kallie, Sara, and Georgia (from XYE). Stand Together will be the closing number for the event.
• Call time: 12:00 pm
• Event time: 1:00-2:00 pm
• Location: Harbour View Elementary School, 25 Alfred St., Dartmouth (52/53/64 bus routes will get you closest to the school once you get to Dartmouth)
• Dress: Xara tshirts, black bottoms, black flats. Have hair and makeup done and looking beautiful to be on camera.

Blocking & Music Notes - April 27th & Full Run Through Video

Here is the video from today's run of the show, along with the Blocking & Music notes that Claire and Christina gave in rehearsal.

April 27 - Run of WotEL

Blocking and Transition Notes & Changes

1.    End of Apple

·      Sop 1s, move back to original positions at measure 89 and the rest of the choir can fill in after that

2.    V’la l’bon Vent

·      Look at the quartet as soon as they start singing

·      The head snap forward during the first chorus needs to be cleaner

·      The chatter at the end of the piece needs to start right away – figure out what you are going to say, and who you are going to talk to

·      Remember that there are four steps on the downbeats once the choir starts singing words again near the end of the piece (after the slow section)

3.    I Lie

·      The candle needs to disappear more quickly, let hands drift down slowly

4.    Transition between I Lie & Day Dawn

·      On the imaginary next measure, assume the sleeping position (lean almost all the way over)

·      Kallie will blow out her candle when she arrives in place, and people can begin slowly waking up in their own time

5.    Day Dawn

·      Begin standing up at measure 14

·      Altos, double check when you are to step back in the “shadow” section

6.     Transition between Day Dawn & Heaven Will Rise

·      Look at Joanna as soon as she begins to speak

·      After Joanna’s line, start chattering quietly & excitedly

·      Under Mackenzie & Tejas, Jenny will start the “popcorn” notes while people continue to chatter and move to positions

·      Opening notes will happen immediately after Tejas’ line

7.     Heaven Will Rise

·      Excitement needs to build over the course of this piece

·      Measure 46 snap head to the left to see the train coming, over measure 47, slowly watch the train until you arrive back to facing centre

8.     Uraren Besotik

·      Keep your hand on the handle when you put your suitcase down to minimize the sound that it makes

·      Measures 59-60 steps forward as usual

·      Measure 61 Sop 1s put suitcases down

·      Measure 62 Sop 2s put suitcases down

·      Measure 63 Altos put suitcases down

·      Measure 64 Hands up – don’t let your arms relax until Christina releases at the end

Music Notes

1.    Apple

·      Keep the tempo up! We are losing time at the ends of phrases; keep the pulse going.

2.    V’la l’bon Vent

·      The word “vent” needs to be less “vont” (“bon” should have lips forward, “vent” should have a relaxed mouth position)

·      Alto 2s, check when your Ching ch-k pattern ends in the 5^th verse

3.    I Lie

·      Good improvement in the slow section!

·      Sopranos, continue to work on intonation

4.    Day Dawn

·      Key change was good – Sop 2 make sure you have your interval to the F# solid

·      Sop 1 – make sure to articulate slightly from measures 10-12 so that it doesn’t sound like one long legato line

·      Page 4 “clouds” – needs a clean cut-off

·      Measures 26-28 – Solidify your notes

·      Alto 1 – don’t decrescendo too much over measure 35

·      Overall – final cut-offs between sections need to be tidied up and not take too much time

5.    Heaven Will Rise

·      Going well overall

·      Christina is going to increase the tempo slightly, make sure to get that in your body

6.    Uraren Besotik

·      Those of you who know this piece really well, don’t rely only on your previous memory of how it goes – check the new markings

·      In the fast sections – only LOOK as though you are moving quickly, so that you can maintain breath support

·      Contrast between the loud and quiet sections needs some attention

Notes for Church Service + Sunday Apr 27!

Hi everyone!

We hope you had a lovely Easter weekend off and got in some much needed relaxation time! From here on out we've got a busy few weeks, so let's buckle down and be the rock stars that we always are!!!

Church Service Notes

We are singing at Edgewood-Oxford United Church (3055 Connaught Ave, Halifax) this Sunday morning. The church service is at 10:30 am, so please be at the church by 9:15 am to rehearse and sing through the hymns. We are singing Lux Aeterna, Ave Maria, and Heaven Will Rise. We will be using folders - please bring one if you have one (Christina doesn't have many left because people keep forgetting to bring them back!). Dress is long black Xara dresses, black belts (Robin to bring belts), and black flats or Xara shoes. Hair should just look nice and be pulled back off your face.

Costumes

Claire has posted a doc to the Facebook group where you can sign up for a time to go to her house and try on your costume for the show. It is mandatory that everyone arrange this before the May 4th rehearsal. There are currently spots on Saturday afternoon and Monday evening slotted. If you cannot make either time, please send her a message ASAP to schedule an alternate time.

Rehearsal Notes

Full company called 1:15-5:30 pm (sop 1s on snack duty). On Sunday we'll go through a few little fixes for the show, then we'll do a run! We'll do more notes and fixes and hopefully have time for a second run-through. In the last half an hour of rehearsal, we will be doing stand-and-sing run throughs of Heaven Will Rise, Day Dawn and Apple, in order to record them for a Canada Council grant application.

This Sunday you need to bring:

• the usuals (music, script, water, pencil)
• your costume if you were able to come to a Saturday fitting / if not, please wear a long skirt
• black Xara shoes (everyone will need to have/purchase their own pair for the show)
• sheets/dishclothes, knitting, baskets (Krystal), suitcase (Hayley)

** Important ** You will all be receiving your suitcase on Sunday afternoon. You must be prepared to take your suitcase home with you after rehearsal. You will need to bring it with you to every rehearsal/performance from now until June 1. If it is rainy on Sunday (or any rehearsal/performance day), you must bring a garbage bag to put over the suitcase or be able to transport it home in a car.

Thanks y'all!!! See you Sunday!